Vancouver park commissioners will be asked Monday night to adopt a permanent policy that defines what type of swim attire is allowed at the city’s pools.
The recommendation comes more than a year after commissioners voted 6-1 to run a trial that allowed various types of swimwear to be worn by patrons when swimming.
A review of the trial found only one complaint registered via the city’s 311 phone service.
“The feedback was regarding topless females and consideration for the park board to mandate female patrons to cover their tops,” said a staff report going before commissioners Monday.
“During the same time, no other feedback was provided to staff through patron complaints about swim attire or the policy.”
In 2000, Maple Ridge resident Linda Meyer won a B.C. Supreme Court decision that stood behind the right of women to bare their breasts at a pool. Meyer was charged with violating a clothing bylaw after going topless at a city-run pool in Maple Ridge in July 1997.
Justice R.R. Holmes concluded there was no evidence to support the view “that the parks could not operate in orderly fashion if a female were to bare her breasts in a circumstance that did not offend criminal laws of nudity.”
'Coverage of genitals'
Baring genitals, however, is not allowed.
Staff’s report said appropriate swimwear is defined as what other Canadians find as “an acceptable level of tolerance in a family public swimming environment that includes maintaining full and appropriate coverage of genitals.”
Or as Peter Fox, the park board’s manager of recreation services, told commissioners at the meeting in April 2023 to launch the trial:
“The policy speaks to full coverage of the genital area. We do have patrons that do wear string bikinis, thong bottoms and so on with the cheeks of the buttocks exposed. That's not a problem, as long as the genital area is covered.”
Staff’s review of the trial noted no concerns raised by the two-spirit, trans and gender diverse people related to swims held for that community.
In addition, a recent survey of park board aquatic leaders found the majority “were happy with the current policy” and supported it becoming permanent.
'Sexual/intimate purposes'
Commissioners heard from staff in April 2023 that the need for an appropriate swimwear policy was driven by concerns from lifeguards and other aquatic facility workers about how to respond to people who show up to swim in inappropriate gear.
A staff report defined that gear as “items designed for sexual/intimate purposes,” clothing which absorbs water and becomes heavy such as jeans or sweatpants, and attire with long or flowing fabric that may limit movement or cause a safety risk.
“There were concerns expressed at the park board meeting [in April 2023] that the policy would marginalize some groups; however, there has been no feedback indicating that this has occurred, or issues identified during the one-year pilot period,” the report said.
If approved, the permanent policy states appropriate attire for swimming includes:
• a bathing suit
• swim trunks, board shorts
• T-shirts, shorts
• burkini
• swim hijab, leggings and tunic
• rash guard
• wet suit
Bladder control
“Appropriate swimwear allows the body to move freely, does not impede buoyancy and does not create an increased risk to the safety of the bather or lifeguard,” the report said.
“Attire for swimming must be clean, must not restrict movement or create a safety hazard, and cannot be clothing worn from the street or workout into the pool.”
The report said all participants are required to have control of their bladder and/or bowels in order to maintain water quality. Items such as reusable or disposable swim diapers and pants are to be worn by individuals without sufficient control, the report said.
“When administering this policy, staff must conduct themselves with decorum and with proper attention to the city’s diversity,” the report said.
“They must treat our patrons with respect at all times. This means respecting the rights of other people, treating people with courtesy, in a fair and consistent manner and recognizing the different views that our patrons may have when choosing their attire for swimming.”
Monday’s meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
